2010:428 - Loughmacask and Lousybush, Kilkenny

Testing was undertaken in order to study the impact on the potential archaeological resource within the footprint of a proposed residential development at Loughmacask and Lousybush, c. 1.5km north-west of the centre of Kilkenny city. It followed a desktop assessment, and subsequent geophysical survey carried out by Target Geophysics. Loughmacask can be translated as the ‘Lake of MacCask’, whereas Lousybush has been recorded as a meeting place of beggars. Its literal translation from sceach na miol means ‘whitethorn of the lice’. Further testing was carried out adjacent to this under licence 10E0226 (see No. 427 above).
The overall testing programme involved the excavation of 30 trenches across the proposed development area. Eleven of these trenches were excavated specifically to investigate potential archaeological features identified by the geophysical survey.
Testing did not reveal any archaeological features or deposits. However, it was thought possible that previously unrecorded subsurface archaeological remains might be present within the proposed development area. As a result, it was recommended that all ground-disturbance works associated with the proposed development be monitored.
Due to the presence of a potato crop at the location of the proposed temporary well and associated pipeline, it was not possible to excavate test-trenches at this location. The well and pipeline are located c. 60m north-west of a ringfort, KK019–006. Although the proposed infrastructure will not directly impact on the site, it was thought possible that ground disturbance associated with the construction of the well may impact on associated remains located beneath the existing ground level. It was therefore recommended that testing be carried out as originally proposed at the site of the temporary well and pipeline.